New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-07

take the opportunity 10 ask you-in fact wish
you would give me the certificate OF my iathers
death you told me he couldn't last long, and 1t
will spare me the trouble of going expressly TO
town" The explanation of th, prccipitancy was
that the old man had life policy Of twenty
pounds. 1t was with difficulty that the doctor
made the young man comprehend the impossl-
bilty of giving n certificate of death for a
living person The father finally died at q IN the
morning At 10 the son announced the news and
demanded the certificate.
Our French friend has much to say on the
Scotch view and treatment Of death. Good
Christian that he is, and in his quality II Il
man who has led useful and well llied HE,
Donald the approach of ceath with fear,
the death Of others especially
A friend of NJ. ORcli an English professor,
had been entrusted with young Scotch student
Of good promise, whom he had accompanied to
Bracmar for combined reading and relaxation BY
u deplorable accident the pupil was drowned. OF
course the professor was profoundly moved, the
more so as he felt that lac wa, IN measure
responsible. and he dreaded the scene which he
prefgurcd when the father should arrive "A
dispatch was sent to the father. who came the
next day Ny friend met hun at the station. His
relief was great whcrf tho bcrcaved parent said
The ord hath given and the Lord hath taken
away Blessed be the name Of the Lord Then
he added: '1his sublime reflection is found in
the Book OF JOB. chapter the first, verse twenty
one But stop--is it verse twcnty-one or verse
twenty -two? | am almost sure 1t Is twenty
one.' My friend could not be positive about it,
and they discussed the Book of job all the way
to the house where the body Of the young coicgian
lay. On arriving do not suppose that the Scotch
man ran TO press farewell kiss upon his sons
brow. lie threw himself upon a Bible which he
saw on the table. lie turned the leaves rapidly,
stopped at the first chapter of the Book of job,
and casting triumphant look upon the pro-
fcssor he cried Verse twenty-onc, sir. told
YOU sou
Here is another rather vcnomous illustrations
An old Scotchman. feeling himself ly ing, had
assembled his family round his bed Il have
called YOU all. he said, that you may hear my
last wishes. | leave my house and It's depend
encies to my son Donald. l leave him also all
my live stock Poor father is keeping his
faculties to the very last, sad Donald TO his
noghbor. AS to my personal property, l desire
to share il equally between here the dying
mans voice failed. lie made last effort to
speak but in vain. They went nearer 10 him.
lie was dead. Poor father said Donald, he IS
gone just AT the moment when his mind began
to wander"
We must conclude our extracts with this about
Sir Walter Scott heard at Mclrosc by the author:
- tourist shortly after Sir Walters death,
made a pilgrimage to AbbOtsford. Returning 10
Mcrose he entered n hotel TO rest and refresh
himself Much moved by his visit he spoke to
the hotcl keeper, observing that the death Of the
great man was "a terrible loss to the country.
Alas, sir replied the Boniface with deep
emotion, II is n heavy loss for us Sir Walter
used to get an his whisllcy here"
W. OKcll has many pleasant and often sug-
cestiyr remarks upon different parts Of Scotland
and particularly upon Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Aberdeen. His notes on the Scotch universities
are thoroughly and genuinely npprcciatvr, and
he Is not less pleased with the scientific and
literary associations which abound in that land
u passionate regard for education. Though it
must Doe admitted that i'm his choice Of anecdotes
he has preferred those which bore tie hardest
uIon the foiblcs Of his friends ~ must not be
forgotten that after all, n he says these are
pictures Of the Scotch painted by themselves.
What be adis from personal observation Is
sometimes caustic and satirical, but rarely shows
any lcavcn Of unl,iulucss. On Che whole, "LAmi
Macdonald must Dc pronounced spriehty and
amusing book, but certainly not to he regarded
ms a serious or prctcntous study Of national
character and manners.